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Man Charged With Arnhem Land Murder Granted Bail to Tiwi Islands
A 20-year-old man charged with murder in Milingimbi appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court and was granted bail to live with family on Bathurst Island. The court imposed electronic monitoring and other strict conditions. He is scheduled to return to court in July.
May 19, 7:07 PM·1m read1 source
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A 20-year-old man charged with murder and unlawful serious harm appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Tuesday and was granted bail to live with family more than 500 kilometres away in the Tiwi Islands. Justin Bukulatjpi faced Justice Judith Kelly after a brawl in Milingimbi last month that left a 26-year-old man dead.
Defence barrister Louise Dart told the court that Bukulatjpi's extended family had moved to Bathurst Island to reduce conflict in central Arnhem Land.
Crown prosecutor Deborah Mandie did not oppose bail but described the case as very strong. She said prosecutors would rely on more than 10 minutes of mobile phone footage showing Bukulatjpi wielding a knife and using a chair as a weapon. Justice Kelly accepted that Bukulatjpi needed to be free to prepare for court and obtain legal advice.
She noted the conditions on remand in prison and expressed a high degree of confidence that he would follow bail conditions. Bukulatjpi will be released from custody on Friday and fitted with an electronic monitoring device. He must report to police and stay away from the community's ferry terminal and airport.
His case will return to court in July.
